Hollande celebrates Bastille day

July 14 - French President Francois Hollande fields questions about his partner Valerie Trierweiler after presiding over Bastille Day celebrations. Deborah Gembara reports.

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In France, thousands of troops paraded down the Champs Elysees while helicopters and jets flew overhead to mark Bastille Day --- the first one since President Francois Hollande took office.
After presiding over the very public celebrations, Hollande fielded questions about simmering tensions between his partner Valerie Trierweiler and his children.
France's First Lady ignited a firestorm last month when she weighed in on a political race in the western city of La Rochelle. She tweeted her support for a candidate who happens against the mother of Hollande's children.
Asked about his journalist partner's tweet, Hollande had this to say.
SOUNDBITE: French President Francois Hollande saying:(French)
"There is no statute. Valerie wants to continue with her professional activity, I am not against that. She will be present by my side, as protocol demands."
Since the tweet, Hollande's children have cut off contact with the First Lady.
SOUNDBITE: French President Francois Hollande saying:(French)
"I make a clear distinction between private life and public life and so I consider that private matters should be sorted out in private. I have said this to those close to me so that they scrupulously agree to respect this principle."
The family feud coupled with car maker Peguot's proposal to lay off 8,000 workers could overshadow the president's first few months in office.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.

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